Sri Lanka to set up national network of autism and neurodevelopmental centers

COLOMBO, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will establish a national network of daycare and therapy centers for children with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions, the President's Media Division (PMD) said in a statement on Thursday.

Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, secretary to the president, has directed officials to prepare a detailed concept proposal within two weeks, following discussions held on Wednesday at the Presidential Secretariat, the PMD said.

The initiative, championed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to create a system involving multiple ministries and government departments, with the Presidential Secretariat overseeing implementation, the PMD said.

The program will be funded by an allocation of 250 million rupees (about 833,000 U.S. dollars) from the 2025 budget, the PMD said.

The government wants to bring together healthcare providers, social services and education specialists to ensure comprehensive support for affected children and their families, the PMD said. Enditem